Constructing your own DIY goat milking stand is quite easy and very necessary if you plan to raise goats. The milking stand cannot only be used for the purpose of milking, but it can easily be used as a grooming stand as well. Without a designated stand you’ll have a hard time convincing a goat that it needs to stand still long enough to trim its hooves!

The Purpose of a Milking Stand

You’ve finally made the decision to bring goats onto the homestead, whether it’s for milking or to work the land, you will quickly realize that the easiest way to handle them will be on the milking stand. The stand is definitely worth the time invested in constructing it, and you’ll find yourself using it often.

MILKING: With the decision to raise dairy goats, you will quickly realize that it’s easiest to milk when they are higher off the ground, allowing you to sit as you milk.

GROOMING: Hoof trimming can often be difficult and the most disliked task for both keeper and goat. A milking stand raises them to a higher level, making it easier to work on their hooves. The head clamp prevents them from being able to escape while also preventing them from hurting themselves.

MEDICAL: Another great use for the milking stand is easy application for drenching, injections, banding or wellness checks.

The Construction

Building the stand is quite simple, and it can be constructed in true homesteading fashion. This stand was constructed using 80% reclaimed or recycled material from various places or other builds. With lumber cost being quite high, the best location to find material would be on Craigslist, at construction sites, or even through buy nothing groups on Facebook. Let friends and family know that you are looking for material and they will often keep an eye out, helping you to keep construction costs down.

The stand we built is simple, sturdy and wide enough that it will not tip over. 4×4’s were used for the legs which were cut to be 16 inches high. Though it’s not necessary, we add triangle cuts attached to the corner of the leg to the frame for added sturdiness.

The platform was built using 2×4’s, building the frame to fit 2 1/2 ft long boards. The actual frame is 2 1/2 ft wide and 3 ft long.

The head locking devise was made with 2×4’s, one side is solid and does not move. The other is held in place with a carriage bolt, allowing it to move side to side, locking the head in place.

When constructing the head clamp you’ll want to take measurements from a few members of your herd, splitting the difference between the smallest herd member to the largest. A carriage bolt acts as a hinge for the moving side of the head clamp. To prevent the clamp from opening, a simple hook latch was added.

It’s important to keep the goats occupied while they are on the stand; a feed bucket filled with treats will do just that. The bucket is held into place by using 2×4’s with a half inch gap between them, created by stacking washers around the screws fastening the 2×4’s together.

The milking stand is currently placed against the wall of the barn. We will be adding a rail to both sides, preventing the goats from being able to step off.

This project has saved us a LOT of backaches, and is less stressful for the goats. We strongly suggest you have a milking stand constructed prior to bringing goats onto the homestead, helping them to be comfortable with it as young kids.

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You may know her as A Farm Girl In The Making, but she is, in fact, one of the most incredible, sweet spirited people you’ll ever meet. Ann Accetta-Scott and her family homestead in Washington state, and believe in all natural remedies for themselves and their animals. Ann can help you through any “wet” and dirty situation on your homestead, as living in Washington has tested their skills time and time again with bacteria and viruses that their animals may encounter from living in a wet environment that cannot be controlled.